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Blog Entry 19 of 25 No Child Left Inside
This blog is designed to let people know what we do here at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve - the educational programs we offer, the teacher workshops, the public programs, etc. If you haven't already visited, we hope you will soon - see you at the Woods!

Blog Url: http://buffalo.yourhub.com/~ReinsteinWoods

The Toads are a Trilling!

Contributed by: Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve   on 4/24/2008

Things have been busy here at Reinstein Woods lately! Spring is in full gear, and every day is a new adventure. Especially last Saturday! On April 19th, we held our second annual Earth Day Celebration with about 500 people in attendance. It was awesome! The weather was record-breaking, the clean-up was a success and the exhibits and hikes were a lot of fun!

Early in the day, I noticed that the American toads were sounding off their mating call near the Education Center. A little while after that, I noticed people milling about around the overflow pond outside the Education Center. This body of water is really only wet in the spring after the thaw. It was just dug last year. So this is the first year that anything would really use it. And wow, were the toads using it!

When I finally got out there myself to see what everyone was looking at, I was astounded! I've been an educator for over ten years now, and I've never seen the likes of this display! The male toads were everywhere trilling away in hopes of attracting a mate. The pond was literally alive with toads!

During mating males typically grasp females in a behavior known as amplexus. Amplexus is thought to help to align both male and female reproductive tracts and help to achieve successful fertilization. So, you can imagine the sites to behold that day! The female toads had quite a workout!

Just in case you are the hands-on type, and feel the need to pick up wildlife, even though it's really not good for them, please keep this in mind: WarningToads have enlarged glands (called the paratoid glands) on the side of the neck, one behind each eye. These glands secrete a viscous white poison that gets smeared in the mouth of any would-be predator, inflaming the mouth and throat and causing nausea, irregular heart beat, and, in extreme cases, death. Toads pose a danger to pets, which may pounce on and bite them. Humans should take care to wash their hands after handling a toad, and to avoid touching the mouth or eyes until having done so.

I took a video of one of the toads trilling. To view it, go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ReinsteinWoods

Just click on the folder to open it, and then click "slideshow" to view the video. Watch how the water vibrates around him as he trills. Pretty cool stuff.

OK, I'm a nature geek, but I do think most people will find it at least a little interesting!

The sounds of the toads have waned a little during the daytime since that day, but starting May 1st, we will have evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8:00pm. The best time to hear the frogs and toads call is in the evening. Hopefully you can make it out to our self-guided trails and listen to the sounds of spring!

~ Lauren


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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve has posted 25 blog entries and 4 comments since joining on 2/8/2007. Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve 's average blog rating is 5.
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